Understanding the Post-Apocalyptic Universe
The universe of The Last of Us spans several decades, detailing humanity's collapse following a devastating fungal pandemic. Created by Naughty Dog, the narrative jumps across different eras, incorporating flashbacks, prequels, and time skips across multiple releases. To fully grasp the emotional depth and character motivations of Joel, Ellie, and Abby, understanding the narrative in chronological order provides invaluable context.
This complete timeline breaks down every major event across The Last of Us, The Last of Us: Left Behind, and The Last of Us Part II, placing all critical plot points in chronological order.
September 26, 2013: Outbreak Day
The nightmare begins on September 26, 2013, when a mutated strain of the Cordyceps brain infection spreads rapidly across North America. Within hours, infected individuals turn aggressively hostile, leading to widespread societal collapse.
In Austin, Texas, single father Joel Miller attempts to flee the chaotic city with his daughter Sarah and brother Tommy. During their escape, a soldier receives orders to shoot them to prevent contamination. Sarah is fatally shot in Joel's arms, an irreplaceable loss that profoundly shapes Joel's emotional detachment for the next twenty years.
2013–2033: The Dark Twenty Years
Following the collapse of civilization, surviving military forces establish Martial Law, consolidating humans into heavily fortified Quarantine Zones (QZs) managed by the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA). Over time, totalitarian control breeds resistance groups, most notably the Fireflies—a paramilitary organization fighting to overthrow FEDRA and synthesize a cure for the infection.
During these two decades, Joel operates as a smuggler alongside his partner Tess in the Boston Quarantine Zone, resorting to ruthless survival tactics. Meanwhile, Joel's brother Tommy abandons the Fireflies and establishes a flourishing, self-sustaining community in Jackson, Wyoming.
Early 2033: Left Behind and Ellie's Awakening
Prior to meeting Joel, fourteen-year-old Ellie attends a military boarding school in the Boston Quarantine Zone. Her life changes dramatically when her best friend, Riley Abel, reveals she has joined the Fireflies.
The events of The Last of Us: Left Behind document their final night together exploring an abandoned shopping mall. After being attacked by an infected, both girls are bitten. While Riley succumb to the virus, Ellie miraculously discovers she is immune to the Cordyceps infection. Firefly leader Marlene realizes Ellie's importance and plans to transport her to a medical facility across the country.
Summer 2033 – Spring 2034: The Journey Across America
The core events of The Last of Us (and its remake, The Last of Us Part I) begin in the summer of 2033. When a weapons deal goes wrong in Boston, Marlene hires Joel and Tess to smuggle Ellie out of the QZ to a Firefly rendezvous point at the Boston City Hall.
- Summer 2033: Tess is infected and sacrifices herself to give Joel and Ellie time to escape. Joel takes Ellie to Pittsburgh and later Jackson, Wyoming, attempting to hand her off to Tommy. Ellie refuses to leave Joel, and the two form a deep father-daughter bond.
- Autumn 2033: Joel and Ellie arrive at the University of Eastern Colorado seeking Firefly surgeons. Joel is critically injured in an ambush, forcing Ellie to care for him through the brutal winter.
- Winter 2033–2034: While hunting for medicine, Ellie encounters a group of cannibals led by David. She is captured but fights back brutalizing David before Joel rescues her.
- Spring 2034: Joel and Ellie finally reach Saint Mary's Hospital in Salt Lake City. Marlene reveals that extracting the fungus to create a vaccine will require a fatal surgery on Ellie. Refusing to lose another daughter, Joel rampages through the hospital, killing the Firefly surgeon, Dr. Jerry Anderson, and Marlene. He saves Ellie, escaping back to Jackson while lying to her that other immune people exist and the Fireflies gave up on a cure.
2034–2037: The Interregnum in Jackson
During the years between main games, Joel and Ellie settle into the safety of Jackson. However, their relationship deteriorates as Ellie grows suspicious of Joel's story regarding Saint Mary's Hospital.
In 2036, Ellie travels back to Salt Lake City on her own and uncovers the truth. Devastated by Joel's deception and the realization that her immunity could have saved humanity, she severs ties with him. Simultaneously, Abby Anderson—the daughter of the Firefly surgeon Joel killed—joins the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) in Seattle, obsessively tracking Joel for revenge.
Spring 2038 – 2040: The Cycle of Revenge
The main narrative of The Last of Us Part II takes place four years after the original game's conclusion, escalating into a destructive exploration of grief and vengeance.
- Spring 2038: Abby and her group track Joel to the outskirts of Jackson. After Joel and Tommy save Abby from a horde, Abby brutally murders Joel in front of Ellie.
- Seattle Day 1–3: Fueled by rage, Ellie and her girlfriend Dina travel to Seattle to track down Joel's killers. Simultaneously, the game reveals Abby's perspective, showcasing her conflict with a religious cult known as the Seraphites and her bond with a young exile named Lev.
- The Confrontation: Abby kills Ellie's friend Jesse and severely wounds Tommy in Seattle. Abby spares Ellie and Dina on the condition that they leave Seattle forever.
- 2040 (Santa Barbara): Trying to live a quiet life on a farm with Dina and her infant son JJ, Ellie suffers from persistent PTSD. Learning that Abby has been spotted in Santa Barbara, Ellie leaves her family to seek final closure. She finds Abby captured and malnourished by a militia group called the Rattlers. After a grueling fight on the beach, Ellie decides to spare Abby's life, finally letting go of her grief. Returning home, Ellie finds the farm abandoned, leaving behind Joel's guitar as she moves forward into an uncertain future.
Chronological Order to Experience the Games
For players who wish to experience the timeline in exact chronological sequence, follow this order:
- The Last of Us (Prologue: 2013 Outbreak)
- The Last of Us: Left Behind (Mall flashbacks with Riley)
- The Last of Us Part I (Main Campaign)
- The Last of Us Part II (Flashbacks: Birthday Museum, Finding the Truth)
- The Last of Us Part II (Main Campaign & Santa Barbara Epilogue)
Frequently Asked Questions
What year does Outbreak Day occur in the games?
In the video game timeline, Outbreak Day occurs on September 26, 2013. Note that the HBO television adaptation altered this starting year to 2003.
How many years pass between Part I and Part II?
Approximately four years pass between the end of The Last of Us Part I (Spring 2034) and the primary events of The Last of Us Part II (Spring 2038).
Should I play Left Behind before Part I?
While The Last of Us: Left Behind takes place chronologically before the main story, it contains major spoilers for the winter chapter of The Last of Us Part I. It is strongly recommended to play The Last of Us: Left Behind after completing the main campaign of the first game.
Final Thoughts
The universe of The Last of Us stands as one of gaming's most meticulously crafted stories. By tracing the chronological progression from the tragedy of 2013 to the redemptive moments of 2040, players can fully appreciate how Naughty Dog interconnected every character's choices across generations.
